Interpreter/Remote Live Captioning Services

Upon request, eligible individuals will be provided with qualified sign language interpreters or remote live captioning for Appalachian State University sponsored programs, activities and events (ie.seminars, official meetings, final exams, orientation, campus tours, tutoring sessions, etc.).

Procedure

Students who are making an initial request for Interpreters/Remote Live Captioning for courses must complete the ODR Student Procedure for requesting accommodations. Upon confirmation of services, students must contact ODR immediately of any changes in schedule.

All requests must be made to ODR with as much advance notice as possible; a minimum of 2 weeks is recommended, prior to the date of the event/program/activity.

Interpreter assignments are determined in consideration of individual preferences, event/program/activity specifics and qualifications and availability of qualified providers. If ODR is unable to identify available qualified Interpreter/s, follow up communication to determine potential alternatives, such as remote live captioning will occur.

Cancellations/Changes

Individuals are responsible for informing ODR with 24 hours advanced notice for any planned absence. Repeated failure to report absence/cancellation to ODR could result in loss of services.

For last minute cancellations for regularly scheduled courses, an individual should contact the scheduled provider regarding the cancellation, immediately followed by contacting ODR with an update.

Providers will wait 15 minutes before leaving/discontinuation of services for the scheduled time frame.

Qualifications of Providers

Interpreters are certified through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), and are expected to adhere to the Interpreter Code of Professional Conduct, as well as all policies and procedures of ASU.

Remote Live Captioners are certified through the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and graduates of accredited captioning programs, and are expected to adhere to policies of accredited programs and policies and procedures of ASU.

Role of Interpreter

All classroom interpreters are qualified and adhere to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Interpreter Code of Professional Conduct, as well as all policies and procedures of ODR.

Interpreters are contracted with ODR, not the individual needing the services. Any additional interpreting service requests must be made through ODS.

Tests or Exams: The interpreter will only interpret directions or oral portions of the test for a student. All questions, even those pertaining to language, are to be directed to the professor.

Interpreters are not assigned to specific individuals but to specific assignments. Interpreters are not tutors, test givers, or mentors for individuals. It is inappropriate to discuss grades or performance with the interpreter.

The role of the interpreter is to facilitate communication during class lectures, discussions, and university events using sign language. The interpreter is to interpret all audible information (e.g.: lecture, class comments/discussions, performances) as well as voice for the deaf/hard of hearing individual, as needed.

Role of Remote Live Captionist

Remote real-time captions are produced at a remote location and then transmitted to the site where the program is taking place. For example, in a lecture hall an instructor uses a microphone to capture audible information (e.g: lecture, class discussions, etc) that is connected to a captioner which produces a transcript to an indivduals personal device (i.e., laptop) with less than a 2 second delay.

Real-time captioning has been estimated to be over ninety percent accurate, however, the audience may see occasional errors.